Written By: Jared Tennant

The success of any collegiate athlete is driven by what happens away from the field of play. Countless hours must be dedicated to training and conditioning in the weight room and practice field as athletes prepare themselves both physically and mentally to ensure they are at their best during competition.

At Cleveland State, Tim Bilbrey has one of the most important yet unforgiving jobs of any member of the athletic department. As head strength and conditioning coach, Bilbrey is tasked with implementing training programs for more than 300 student-athletes across 18 sports.

Unlike athletes and head coaches, the impact of strength and conditioning coaches cannot be calculated by points or assists. Rather, the connection that coaches develop with their athletes and their ability to bring the best out of those they train are the primary measures of success. At the Division I level, the physical and mental training of athletes is an ongoing process that has no offseason.

CSU athletes require a wide variety of training regimens to prepare for the vastly different physical and mental tasks required by their sport. Despite a mammoth workload, Bilbrey's unique approach to strength and conditioning coupled with his love for teaching and developing student-athletes has allowed him to thrive since being hired to the position in 2013.

"Being in the weight room or on the field with an athlete and trying to help them become better in their sport while trying to develop them as a person, I don't see how you can't get up for that each day," said Bilbrey.

The "athlete-first" mentality empowers Bilbrey to make a potent impact on the students and coaches with whom he works. He'll be the first to admit that in the world of strength and conditioning, even the most experienced coaches must continue to learn and grow in order to be successful.

"He's a student of his profession," said Vikings Men's Basketball Head Coach Dennis Gates. "When you have guys like that who pour into their work as students, you have the innovation, passion and guidance that inspires student-athletes to get the best out of themselves."

DAILY GRIND

Bilbrey and his assistant, Michael Peres, have their hands full year-round. Responsibilities vary based on season, but the overall workload tends to remain jam-packed no matter what the calendar reads. With a multitude of sports and athletes to support, it's no surprise that the department's schedule constantly fluctuates.

"No day is like the day before it," Bilbrey said. "I can't really tell you how every day works. My day tomorrow is probably going to be entirely different."

From attending practices to guiding lifting sessions to logging into a myriad of Zoom calls, Bilbrey's position calls for the flexibility and determination necessary to commit endless hours to the development of Cleveland State's athletes.

"Some days, I'm here at 5:30 in the morning for group training," he said. "Then, you may have practice in the afternoon and a game that night. I can't tell you an exact schedule for how my days look."

Bilbrey works directly with multiple sports, creating customized programs while accounting for team goals and each coach's individual desires for their athletes. In addition to typical weightlifting, he often includes supplemental components such as agility work, speed development and traditional conditioning.

At a school with 18 different Division I programs, meshing with diverse personalities and a variety of colleagues is crucial. Luckily, each coaching staff commits to making life easier for Bilbrey, communicating their respective team's goals and collaborating on the most effective strength and conditioning schedule.

"Everyone's great, that's one of the highlights of our department," Bilbrey explained. "Everybody has a willingness and desire to help others and wants to be great as a department. There's definitely great camaraderie and it's fun to work with different coaches and athletes and be involved in a lot of different ways."

Over 15 years in the field of strength and conditioning, Bilbrey has developed the capacity to work effectively with nearly anyone. It's a talent that has been cultivated across positions with multiple Division I schools, a professional baseball franchise and even his own start-up business.

WINDING ROAD

Like many college freshmen, Bilbrey didn't have an exact idea of where he wanted his career to go. The Medina native and Medina High School graduate enrolled at Kent State University in 1999 knowing he desired a position that, in some way or another, involved sports. To what degree and in what role, he wasn't sure.

"I hadn't nailed down what I wanted to do until probably my sophomore year of college," said Bilbrey. "I was initially looking into sports medicine and feeling out some different areas of athletics."

Bilbrey used Kent State's athletic department to gauge his interest in several potential career paths. A collegiate athletic department, especially one as large as Kent State, is brimming with opportunities. Bilbrey absorbed as much information as he could from different areas within the vast department. It was a lengthy process that involved being exposed to various career paths and learning the challenges and opportunities they each presented.

It was around this time that Bilbrey discovered his love for strength and conditioning. He immediately began to research the field, seeking out internship and volunteer opportunities at Kent State.

"It was a lot of trial and error," Bilbrey said. "I was figuring out what the best place was for me to be, what caught my attention and what drove me. That was something that I really took seriously for myself, and strength and conditioning was a natural fit."

In 2004, Bilbrey graduated from Kent State with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine. Shortly thereafter, he landed an internship with the Detroit Tigers as a strength and conditioning intern. It was a new experience, and one that taught him the serious commitment required from players and coaches alike in the professional sports industry. This phenomenon was especially prevalent in baseball, where schedules leave little to no down time, and everyone has dreams of advancing to the next level.

"You have games every day," Bilbrey explained. "If you don't have a game, you're typically traveling. You're with those people nonstop and it's the epitome of a team environment, a 'home away from home' type of environment."

Bilbrey was in major league camp with the Tigers before being assigned to work with the club's Double-A farm team, the Erie Seawolves. The 2005 edition of the SeaWolves featured future major-league talent such as Justin Verlander, Don Kelly and Jack Hannahan.

While living out of a hotel, Bilbrey was able to work with pro athletes for the first time while gaining valuable experience in a major-league organization. He made the decision to return to Kent State after the conclusion of the internship to pursue his master's degree.

After two years of working as a graduate assistant in the strength and conditioning department while working toward his degree, Bilbrey graduated with a Master of Arts in Exercise Physiology. Prior to receiving his diploma, he secured a full-time position as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at a Mid-American Conference rival, Eastern Michigan University.

"I was still young in the field and Eastern Michigan gave me a great opportunity to have a lot of autonomy," Bilbrey said. "It was a lot of long days and working seven days a week, but it was a great experience and one that I wouldn't trade."

In addition to the development and implementation of training programs for multiple sports, Bilbrey worked closely with the school's football program, traveling and assisting with the team. It took only one year in the role before he was offered the same position at his alma mater in 2008.

With the Golden Flashes, Bilbrey again primarily worked with football while also overseeing baseball, field hockey, soccer and softball. After three years under head coach Doug Martin, who had been at the helm of Kent State's football program since 2004, Bilbrey's status fell into question when Martin chose to resign.

As is often the case in the world of sports, jobs can be lost and positions eliminated due to circumstances beyond one's control. That was certainly the case when Darrell Hazell was hired as the Golden Flashes' head football coach in 2011 and opted to bring in his own coaching staff, which included a new strength and conditioning coach.

"If you work in athletics, there's always a possibility that when a new coach comes in, you can be part of their new program or not part of their program," Bilbrey explained. "It's up to them."

CARVE YOUR OWN PATH

While most would consider losing their job a major blow, Bilbrey viewed it as an opportunity. He had always dreamed of owning and operating his own training facility, and he now had the perfect storm of events required to make his vision a reality.

In May 2011, he launched 3D Sports Performance, a personal training firm geared toward high school and college athletes. He created customized programs while providing tailored training regimens and education for his clients.

While the training aspect came naturally, becoming a full-fledged business owner brought its own set of obstacles to overcome. From creating a business plan to establishing a brand, Bilbrey had his hands full with managing every aspect of his company.

"That was a challenging and exciting time," said Bilbrey. "It allowed me to learn so many things that I didn't have experience in from a business perspective."

3D Sports Performance was mainly geared toward current athletes, but Bilbrey was open to working with anyone who desired to push themselves beyond the scope of typical workout routines. Rather than offering standard fitness classes found at local gyms and health clubs, he provided the type of high-intensity training normally reserved for college and pro athletes.

"I had a lot of former athletes who were familiar with that type of training, but there were even average Joes who desired a more performance-based training," said Bilbrey. "Athlete or not, a lot of people find themselves drawn to that type of training when they get to do it."

While his business thrived, Bilbrey found himself missing the unique team-first environment found within college athletic departments.

"You miss the collegiate environment," Bilbrey said. "I missed being around teams and having that involvement with different teams along with everything that comes with college athletics."

Bilbrey began his job search, which eventually led to his application at Cleveland State. Months later, he was offered an interview and impressed enough to land the position. After selling off his business in 2013, Bilbrey was ready to lead the Vikings' strength and conditioning department.

LOVE WHAT YOU DO

Seven years later, Bilbrey continues to learn and perfect his craft as the Director of Sports Performance and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. Throughout his 15-plus years in the field, Bilbrey has seen a significant change in terms of how coaches and athletes approach training.

"It's not what it used to be as far as the stereotype of meatheads pushing weights," Bilbrey said. "There's a lot more to it and people are starting to understand some of the benefits of a scientific approach.

"I'd like to consider myself a lifelong learner. I'm always trying to learn and better myself. I don't think what I did last year needs to be what I do this year just because it worked. You always have to adapt and change, and I like to think that I'm always learning on a daily, monthly and yearly basis."

Bilbrey has also discovered the importance of building relationships while providing 1-on-1 coaching for each individual athlete, an area in which he gained plenty of expertise while running 3D Sports Performance. While having a personal connection is valuable, it's especially important to communicate the reasoning behind programming rather than simply going through the motions.

"If athletes understand what they're doing and why they're doing it, you develop that relationship with them," said Bilbrey. "Your ability to impact them is so much greater."

That mindset is part of the reason why Bilbrey is so cherished by Vikings coaches. His time at Cleveland State has allowed him to hone his communication skills and bring the best out of student-athletes. Gates believes that Bilbrey's relationship-focused approach is largely responsible for his success.

"They see a better version of themselves after working with him," Gates said. "It's a talent to have athletes buy in the way he does. His intensity, accountability and discipline all help in the big picture."

Bilbrey, who is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, has survived at CSU through three different men's basketball head coaches. He learned firsthand that in college athletics, that's not always the way things work. It has provided plenty of reasons to be grateful while continuing to perfect his craft.

"You can't paint every athlete with the same brush," said Gates. "Being flexible and having the ability to assess what each athlete needs to maximize their talent is what Tim's been able to do."

Gates was not looking to bring in an entirely new staff when he was hired by Cleveland State in the summer of 2019, but he had a level of familiarity with Bilbrey that provided comfort. Gates' brother, Armon, played basketball at Kent State before returning to the program as an assistant coach in 2008, where he worked alongside Bilbrey.

Furthermore, Gates' mentor, former Eastern Michigan Men's Basketball Head Coach Charles Ramsey, provided a glowing review from Bilbrey's time in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It certainly aided the transition when Gates took over the Vikings' program and provided Bilbrey with the type of job security not typically afforded to those within his field following a regime change.

"When you look at Tim's career path, it was directly associated with people I trust in this business," Gates said. "I didn't take this job trying to make changes or bring my own guy in, but being able to hear good things from people I respect gave me peace that our program was in good hands."

After two seasons, Gates and Bilbrey have developed a strong relationship, with each playing a part in rebuilding the Vikings men's basketball program. The process demands seemingly endless hours coaching athletes and working to improve, but that's nothing new to Bilbrey. To him, operating within a team-first culture and having the opportunity to watch student-athletes grow serves as sufficient motivation.

"Watching them come in as kids as freshmen and leaving as adults is really rewarding to see," said Bilbrey. "Seeing how athletes change over time and mature and grow physically, mentally and personally is the best part about the job."

Bilbrey has primarily worked with football and basketball players throughout his career, but he's quick to point out that his love for strength and conditioning supersedes any single sport or type of athlete.

"I've never been the coach that has to work with one sport," Bilbrey said. "Every team I've ever worked with I've enjoyed working with. They all have a different personality and different ways you can make an impact. There's never been a favorite, each has its own unique benefits."

WORKING FROM HOME

Recently, the coronavirus pandemic impacted Bilbrey's position just as it has affected thousands of others in the world of intercollegiate sports. Rather than coaching athletes in person, he was restricted to Zoom calls and online training sessions for nearly five months.

"I've never spent so much time in front of a computer screen," said Bilbrey. "It was the first time in as long as I can remember that I didn't have athletes training in the summertime. Typically, summers are one of the busiest seasons."

Nevertheless, Bilbrey managed to make an impact on CSU athletes despite being barred from face-to-face conversations. From formulating at-home training programs to planning potential paths forward with coaches, he has remained as busy as ever throughout the warmer months.

Bilbrey's hard work has not gone unnoticed within the Vikings' athletic department. Coaches and athletes alike have seen how his efforts have provided them with a sense of normality during a time when daily routines have been severely altered.

"Obviously, seeing a person work during the good times is easy," Gates said. "Seeing them work during a pandemic, you really get to see their leadership qualities and who they are as people. You can see just how impactful they are to these young people, and he's been all of that.

"It allows you to see his resolve, which is the revolve of a leader and someone who's an expert in their craft. He's handled it top notch. I had respect for him before, but I've gained even more in this short time."

LOOKING AHEAD

From interning at an MLB training camp to helping CSU Men's Basketball to a Horizon League Championship Game appearance in 2018, Bilbrey has created an abundance of memories throughout his career. The future is looking bright for Gates and his squad, and Bilbrey will continue to play a key role in the program's ascension.

"You don't play 30 games on your schedule and not think that strength and conditioning, both offseason and in season, isn't a part of that," said Gates. "Without a guy with his passion, discipline and expertise, I don't think we can get to where we want to go. He has what it takes to get us there."

According to Bilbrey, the sense of togetherness and synergy exhibited within the Vikings' athletic department makes working at CSU one of his favorite stops along a winding career path.

"One of the biggest things I've enjoyed at Cleveland State is seeing how people here work together and the impact they can make," Bilbrey said. "The sense of community within the department has always been a highlight here and has only gotten better, especially with the positive trajectory of where we're headed."

In the years to come, Bilbrey's dedication to improving his craft will continue to allow student-athletes to reach new heights. While he's worked at multiple schools and trained hundreds of athletes, his core philosophy has remained same: Loving what you do makes growing and striving for greatness become second nature.

"You have to love it," Bilbrey said. "You need to realize the impact you can make on the athletes and people you work with on a daily basis. You really have to enjoy it, and that's an easy thing to do when you realize you get to train athletes and work with kids on a daily basis. I don't see how you can't love that."